La Casera recalls 700 sacked workers, says union

The National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, (NUFBTE) on Friday said that La Casera Company has rehired the 700 workers it sacked in September.

The head of Education Department of NUFBTE, Mike Olarenwaju, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Mr. Olarenwaju said the management of La Casera met with the union members to resolve the dispute and that the workers had been asked to start work.

He added that officials of the union would meet with the workers next week to finalise issues with the in-house union.

La Casera management had sacked the workers over what it termed as an invasion of its premises by hoodlums.

At least 1,300 workers made up of 700 staff members and 600 casual workers, arrived at the company’s premises on September 14 to find information pasted on the gate that their employment had been terminated.

It is not clear if the 600 casual workers were also asked to come back to work.

The union officials picketed the company premises for unlawful termination and denial of workers right to be unionized.

The company had before the incident filed a motion at the National Industrial Court (NIC) where the union also took the case to.

After hearing the case, the court granted the union its plea for an order of interim injunction restraining the management from terminating the appointment of the workers until the case is heard.

Judge O.A. Obaseki-Osaghae directed that all parties “maintain the peace and take no action that will lead to a breakdown of law and order.”